Battle Zone! Three Dead as Police Officers and Nigerian Soldiers Open Fire on Themselves in Yobe State

Nigerian soldiers and police officers have opened fire on themselves in Yobe, causing an outbreak of panic in the area.

File photo used only for illustrative purpose

 

About three persons have been killed after soldiers and policemen clashed in Damaturu, the Yobe state capital on Wednesday, Punch Metro reports.

 

Many persons, including soldiers, policemen and civilians were injured in the deadly clash between the two groups.

 

The whole Damaturu was as if it was a theatre of war as continuous gunshots and sounds of heavy artillery were heard, with many residents avoiding the streets.

 

Punch reported that financial institutions, Government establishments and people who opened for the day’s business were forced to close early because of the fight.

 

A police squadron commander was said to have been abducted by the soldiers during the fight. Up and untill the writing of this report, the cause of the fight had yet to be known.

 

Many of the security personnel and civilians who sustained injuries were seen at the accident and emergency ward of the State Specialists’ Hospital, Damaturu, receiving treatment when our correspondent visited.

 

Three corpses of security personnel were equally seen deposited at the hospital morgue, but both the military and the police said they were yet to confirm the casualty figure.

 

Meanwhile, a security meeting between the military, the police and the DSS which is chaired by the the deputy governor, Abubakar Aliyu, was held behind closed doors at the Government House, Damaturu after the ceasefire.

 

Speaking to newsmen at the end of the meeting the commander of the 27 Task Force Brigade, Buniyadi, General Aminu Bande, said a committee had been set up to investigate the matter and ensure justice was done.

 

“The cause of the clash for now is not the issue because it will affect the work of the investigation team.

“The committee will ensure that the officer found guilty for this clash will be seriously dealt with,” the General said.

 

The Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Sumonu Abdulmaliki, said the issue has been resolved, but a panel to investigate the matter has started its work and that they’ve made progress on the resolution of the crisis.

 

“The meeting has ended well and conflict like this is normal and we have made a lot of progress in ensuring that issues like this are averted in the future”

 

The Army General and the Police Commissioner both called on the residents to go about their normal businesses and to also have confidence in the security forces as they would emerge stronger in the fight against the common enemy, the Boko Haram.

 

The state commissioner of Police while speaking on the abduction of the squadron commander of Mopol 41 in Damaturu the state capital said, the officer, CSP Dauda Fika, had been released and currently being examined at an undisclosed hospital in Damaturu.